85
Recorded events
2
Direct deaths
4
Direct injuries
$262.2M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Watauga County, North Carolina: 85 recorded events between 1996 and 2024. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #239 nationally and #8 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Watauga County, North Carolina: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Watauga County is the 2010s, when 46 of the county's 85 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Watauga County archive, flash flood makes up 24.6% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #239 for this hazard and #8 within North Carolina, putting it in the 92.3 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Aug is the peak month for flash flood in Watauga County with 17 recorded events, while Feb is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | KELLERSVILLE | 0 | 2 | 4 | $250.0M |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | KELLERSVILLE | 0 | $250.0M |
| Sep 26, 2024 | PERKINSVILLE | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 18, 2021 | PERKINSVILLE | 0 | $25K |
| Jul 10, 2021 | REESE | 0 | $10K |
| Aug 12, 2020 | DEEP GAP | 0 | $0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | BOONE BLWNG RCK ARPT | 0 | $160K |
| Jan 12, 2020 | MATNEY | 0 | $50K |
| Jun 18, 2019 | PERKINSVILLE | 0 | $0 |
| Jun 18, 2019 | PERKINSVILLE | 0 | $0 |
| Jun 18, 2019 | PERKINSVILLE | 0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Watauga County
- Hail 75
- Thunderstorm Wind 67
- Flood 61
- Heavy Rain 40
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Flash flooding occurred along parts of Route 321 in and southeast of Boone to the Mall area as Kraut Creek flooded. Flash flooding along Boone Creek within the Appalachian State University resulted in flooding with several buildings on campus including Rankin Science West, Edwin Duncan Hall and Newland Hall. Evacuations were ordered for 12 to 15 people in six apartments when dirt around a culvert washed away prompting concern for structural damage to nearby apartments. Others were ordered to shelter in place along Boone Docks where water surrounded, but did not flood their apartments. Water inundated most of the parking lot of the Boone Mall. Damage values are estimated.
Heavy rain from thunderstorms caused one foot of water to flood the Watauga River Bridge between Seven Devils and Grandfather Mountain. Watauga County Sheriff's department reported that a large retaining wall at a motel in Boone, NC had fallen because of heavy rains. Water flowing across Route 105 closed two lanes near Boone, North Carolina. A mudslide was reported along Clarks Creek Road in Foscoe.
Widespread flooding was reported across southern Watauga County. The Boone Fire Department said a woman driving on a flooded section of Bamboo Road got her SUV swept up by the flood waters. Rescue crews quickly got her to safety with no serious injuries. One foot of water was estimated to be flowing down Seven Devils Road onto Route 105 near Foscoe. Linville Creek was reported to have flooded over the bridge at Linville Creek Road. The Watauga River at Sugar Grove (SGWN7) crested at 16.15 feet, the highest stage since September, 2004. Several debris flows were reported across the area, blocking roads. Overall damage to road infrastructure was around $1 million.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Watauga County, North Carolina?
85 flash flood events are recorded in Watauga County between 1996 and 2024, causing 2 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Watauga County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Watauga County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Watauga County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Watauga County, North Carolina.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/north-carolina/watauga-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.